Logline: Centers on the true story of Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, who was raped as a college student in 1984 and later identified the 22-year-old Cotton as her attacker, leading to a jury conviction and sentence of life in prison. Cotton maintained his innocence and was freed 11 years later, thanks to DNA testing; Thompson-Cannino and Cotton then met, became friends and began traveling together through the Innocence Project to promote understanding about flaws in the criminal justice system.
Jennifer Thompson-Cannino
There was a 60 Minutes piece on their story over the weekend. Jennifer Thompson was raped at knifepoint by a man who broke into her apartment while she slept. She was able to escape, and eventually positively identified Ronald Cotton as her attacker. Ronald insisted that she was mistaken— but Jennifer’s positive identification was the compelling evidence that put him behind bars. After eleven years, Ronald was allowed to take a DNA test that proved his innocence. He was released, after serving more than a decade in prison for a crime he never committed. Two years later, Jennifer and Ronald met face to face – and forged an unlikely friendship that changed both of their lives.
